Int. No. 653

By Council Members Ayala, Louis, Riley, Restler, Hanif, Hudson, Ung, Sanchez, Won, Brannan and Brewer

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of social services and the department of homeless services to provide drug treatment services

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-129.2 to read as follows:

§ 21-129.2 Drug treatment services. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Buprenorphine. The term “buprenorphine” means a semi-synthetic opioid medication used to treat opioid addiction that can be prescribed for take home use.

HASA facility. The term “HASA facility” means single room occupancy hotels or congregate facilities managed by a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

b. The department shall provide drug treatment services at all HASA facilities.

c. Such services shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Individual counseling by a certified mental health professional;

2. Group counseling by a certified peer educator;

3. On-site access to buprenorphine or other widely accepted medication to combat opioid addiction pursuant to state and federal law; and

4. On-site access to at least one physician or physician assistant familiar with treating opioid misuse and certified to prescribe buprenorphine or other widely accepted medication to combat opioid addiction pursuant to state and federal law, unless a HASA facility can demonstrate that a nearby healthcare facility can provide access to such physician, by demonstrating that:

(a) Healthcare providers from the healthcare facility regularly visit the HASA facility and provide treatment services to its residents; and

(b) A coordinator is designated to communicate between the HASA facility and the healthcare facility to ensure ease of service to residents seeking treatment. 

d. The department shall post conspicuously on its website, in simple and understandable terms, the drug treatment and counseling services available at each HASA facility.

Section 2. Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-329 to read as follows:

§ 21-329 Drug treatment services. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Buprenorphine. The term “buprenorphine” means a semi-synthetic opioid medication used to treat opioid addiction that can be prescribed for take home use.

Shelter. The term “shelter” means temporary emergency housing provided to homeless individuals by the department or by a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

b. The department shall provide drug treatment services at all shelters.

c. Such services shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Individual counseling by a certified mental health professional;

2. Group counseling by a certified peer educator;

3. On-site access to buprenorphine or other widely accepted medication to combat opioid addiction pursuant to state and federal law; and

4. On-site access to at least one physician or physician assistant familiar with treating opioid misuse and certified to prescribe buprenorphine or other widely accepted medication to combat opioid addiction pursuant to state and federal law, unless a shelter can demonstrate that a nearby healthcare facility can provide access to such physician, by demonstrating that:

(a) Healthcare providers from the facility regularly visit the shelter and provide treatment services to its residents; and

(b) A coordinator is designated to communicate between the shelter and the healthcare facility to ensure ease of service to residents seeking treatment. 

d. The department shall post conspicuously on its website, in simple and understandable terms, the drug treatment and counseling services available at each shelter.

§ 3. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

Session 12

ACK

LS # 7719

8/10/2022

Session 11

SSY/SIL

LS # 5643

Int 1190-2018